Qualification finder

Animal training instructor

Key information

  1. Reference: OCC0398
  2. Date updated: 14/10/2024
  3. Level: 4
  4. Route: Agriculture, environmental and animal care
  5. Regulated occupation: No

Details of the occupational standard

Information Symbol

Higher Technical Qualification

Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are designed to be delivered within a course of education. Some Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours may be more safely and reliably delivered in workplace settings, so may not be fully covered by the HTQ. Some qualifications will deliver additional content or added depth and breadth through, for example, use of specialist learning environments, work placements or innovative teaching methods. Check with the qualification provider if you require further information on coverage.

Occupation summary

This occupation of Animal Training Instructor ATI is found in animal rescue, rehoming and rehabilitation centres, animal and disability charities, public service providers, security and Defence, search and rescue agencies, zoos and safari parks, commercial animal training companies and sole-providers of animal training.

The occupation varies dependent on species. The occupation enables animals to be used in different ways. This could include supporting companionship, assistance, competition, entertainment and security. In some cases, animal training is a critical addition to delivering health and welfare by enabling the animal co-operative care.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to plan, manage and deliver the humane training of animals, with particular emphasis on tailoring training to suit a diverse range of guardians and environments. The term guardian' covers owners, keepers, handlers and related stakeholders..

ATIs plan, teach and manage animal training that incorporates positive, reward based training methods.  They work with guardians to help them introduce and reinforce desirable behaviours and avoid or modify undesirable behaviours. This may involve training the animal to undertake specific tasks, or more general training. They develop and adapt training plans to deliver appropriate goals at an appropriate rate. They will often train, mentor or supervise less experienced staff, colleagues or guardians.

 Working patterns could involve irregular hours and operating in all weather conditions.

 ATIs are required to show empathy, respect, patience, and tolerance in all situations to people and animals. 

In their daily work, an ATI interacts with a diverse group of guardians and their animals. Guardians could have specific physical, emotional or medical needs and be working in complex, constrained, high-profile or dangerous environments and situations.

The ATI may be required to work with other professionals such as, behaviourists, veterinary surgeons, healthcare providers, para-professionals and colleagues to assess the animal, develop, deliver and adapt the training plan. 

An ATI will be responsible for the safety and welfare of animals, guardians, other colleagues and animals and themselves. They must ensure that all training is carried out appropriately and in a suitable environment.

An ATI is responsible for ensuring the training plan is relevant, effective, fit for purpose and under continuous review.

An ATI must ensure that training complies with relevant animal welfare and veterinary legislation for example, the Animal Welfare Act 2006; Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966; Animal Welfare (Sentience) 2022.

 

Typical job titles include:

Animal training instructor Assistance dog instructor Dog trainer instructor including search and rescue

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs
Duty 1 Gather information and knowledge required and incorporate into training plans for animals and their guardians.
K1 K4 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K28
S1 S6 S8 S13 S14 S16 S17 S18 S19
B1 B2 B5 B7 B8 B9
Duty 2 Assess and meet the physical, psychological and emotional needs of animals and guardians.
K1 K2 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25
S1 S4 S6 S7 S11 S13 S14 S17 S19
B1 B2 B9
Duty 3 Create training plans to deliver desired animal behaviours and effects.
K1 K2 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K27 K28
S2 S6 S7 S11 S14 S15 S16 S17 S19
B1 B2 B4 B9
Duty 4 Teach guardians to train, work with and manage their animal(s) in accordance with training plans.
K1 K2 K4 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K13 K14 K15 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27
S3 S9 S11 S13 S14 S15 S17 S19
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B7 B8 B9
Duty 5 Assess the progress of animals and guardians against training plans and modify them accordingly.
K1 K2 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K13 K14 K15 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25
S1 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S19
B1 B2 B5 B9
Duty 6 Undertake risk assessments and manage health and safety.
K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K9 K10 K11 K13 K14 K15
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S13 S16 S17
B2 B4 B9
Duty 7 Maintain records in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
K1 K2 K6 K7 K10 K11 K19 K28
S3 S7 S8 S12 S16
B1 B2 B9
Duty 8 Undertake continuing professional development and keep up to date with current legislation and policies.
K6 K27
S13 S16 S18 S20
B2 B6 B9
Duty 9 Manage resources and environment to deliver efficient and effective training plans.
K5 K6 K9 K10 K13 K21 K23 K25 K26
S2 S4 S9 S13 S14 S16 S17
B1 B2 B5 B8 B9
Duty 10 Support organisational governance and quality assurance.
K2 K10 K17 K19
S2 S3 S12 S13 S16 S17 S19
B1 B2 B8
×

Required knowledge

    Required skill

      Required behaviour

        KSBs

        Knowledge

        K1: Professional responsibilities and boundaries, accountability, and autonomy in relation to the duty of care of animals. Back to Duty

        K2: Legislation and its implications for the ATI, guardians and others, including health and safety and animal welfare, data protection, employment and animal transportation. Back to Duty

        K3: How to carry out risk assessments and use them to manage risk. Back to Duty

        K4: The benefit and value of difference in a diverse and inclusive environment. Back to Duty

        K5: The environmental impact of the occupation, wider organisation and industry. Back to Duty

        K6: The selection and application of digital tools to enable record keeping and collaboration with colleagues and customers. Back to Duty

        K7: The five animal welfare needs and how to assess and address welfare impact across the five welfare domains. Back to Duty

        K8: How training impacts on animal welfare, how to assess whether training is in the best interests of the animal involved and when training is inappropriate. Back to Duty

        K9: The suitability, action, welfare and ethical considerations when selecting training equipment and techniques and the implications of individual animals’ physical and mental capabilities. Back to Duty

        K10: Signs of poor animal health and the actions that should be taken to address health concerns. Back to Duty

        K11: The importance of, and approaches to, routine healthcare, preventative veterinary medicine and biosecurity. Back to Duty

        K12: Anatomy, physiology, health (particularly pain) and the impact on training and behaviour outcomes. Back to Duty

        K13: Natural behaviour patterns, body language and communication methods of animals. Back to Duty

        K14: Ethology, animal behaviour, the human-animal bond and related terminology. Back to Duty

        K15: Socialisation effects on animal learning and behaviour. Back to Duty

        K16: How to take a 'case history' to determine factors which may affect the progress and success of training. Back to Duty

        K17: The process of establishing measurable goals and objectives when developing training plans. Back to Duty

        K18: How to formulate, review and revise training plans based on the available resources and the objectives agreed between the ATI, guardians, and other. Back to Duty

        K19: The importance of, and how to establish and maintain training records in accordance with data protection regulations. Back to Duty

        K20: Classical and operant conditioning and their uses, effects and practical application, including the differences between positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment. Back to Duty

        K21: Schedules of reinforcement and how they can be used to establish and maintain desired behaviour, including the need to guard against unintentional classical and operant conditioning creating undesirable behaviour. Back to Duty

        K22: How behaviour can be reduced or extinguished by the removal of reinforcement and the principle of spontaneous recovery. Back to Duty

        K23: Principles of learning theory and human behaviour change, including lesson plans, learning styles, feedback and coaching as they apply to the ATI occupation. Back to Duty

        K24: How to identify the information that guardians and others need and why. Back to Duty

        K25: Instructional techniques and how to adapt exercises and communication styles to meet the needs and abilities of guardians. Back to Duty

        K26: The importance of confirming that people have received and understood the information and knowledge you have communicated, and how to do so. Back to Duty

        K27: The importance of reflective practice and checking the currency, accuracy and completeness of the information and knowledge you are communicating, and how to do so. Back to Duty

        K28: Levels of academic evidence and how to access peer reviewed literature and reference them into reports. Back to Duty

        Skills

        S1: Assess and maintain the health and welfare needs of animals, including physical, psychological, and emotional needs. Back to Duty

        S2: Assess and maintain the working environment to ensure it is safe and in accordance with relevant legislation, workplace policies and procedures. Back to Duty

        S3: Assess and maintain working practices to ensure they are safe and in accordance with relevant legislation, workplace policies and procedures. Back to Duty

        S4: Assess the risk of disease transmission and implement bio-security controls. Back to Duty

        S5: Complete a dynamic risk assessment and implement control measures. Back to Duty

        S6: Evaluate, manage, and make balanced decisions to address potentially conflicting demands of guardians, animal welfare and societal expectation. Back to Duty

        S7: Create and implement an evidence-based, accessible and individually tailored training plan that meet the needs of animals and their guardians and achieve desired outcomes. Back to Duty

        S8: Take 'case history' to determine the factors which may affect the progress and success of training. Back to Duty

        S9: Prepare the animal, resources, and environment for the training session to aid the achievement of agreed learning outcomes. Back to Duty

        S10: Monitor progress and modify training to meet required outcomes. Back to Duty

        S11: Reinforce desirable animal behaviours and avoid creating undesirable behaviours. Back to Duty

        S12: Create and maintain training records and reports in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. Back to Duty

        S13: Communicate with animal guardians, colleagues, and professionals. Back to Duty

        S14: Apply the principles of learning theory, human behaviour change, instructional techniques, teaching and coaching to deliver training that meets the needs of guardians and achieves required training outcomes. Back to Duty

        S15: Support guardians to implement training. Back to Duty

        S16: Apply digital tools to assist in the ATI function. Back to Duty

        S17: Contribute to the development of sustainable organisational processes and practices. Back to Duty

        S18: Identify and evaluate advances in animal science, working practices and technology and incorporate into operational practice and reference into written reports. Back to Duty

        S19: Recognise when referral to another professional is required or desirable. Back to Duty

        S20: Reflect on personal practice and use this to inform continuous performance improvement. Back to Duty

        Behaviours

        B1: Committed to delivering good animal health and welfare, whilst also meeting the needs of the organisation, the guardian and any societal expectations. Back to Duty

        B2: Acts in a professional, moral and ethical manner, and shows empathy and respect to both animals and people. Back to Duty

        B3: Passionate and committed to sharing their knowledge to support guardians and their animals. Back to Duty

        B4: Committed to the adoption and promotion of safe working practices. Back to Duty

        B5: Acts in a way that builds and maintains positive working relationships. Back to Duty

        B6: Committed to self-reflective practice and keeping up to date with industry best practice. Back to Duty

        B7: Supports an inclusive culture, treating colleagues and external stakeholders fairly and with respect. Back to Duty

        B8: Committed to the adoption and promotion of environmentally sustainable practices.  Back to Duty

        B9: Able to work independently and with autonomy within their scope of practice. Back to Duty

        Foundation Degree in Canine Behaviour and Training

        Awarding body: University of Chester

        Qualification type: HTQ Qualification level: 5 Qualification approved: 15/07/2025
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